It's Thursday, a.k.a. "Distro of the Week" day at FOSS Force. This week we let our hair down -- what little of it there is -- and put FunOS through its paces.
fossforce.com/2026/04/funo...
I use BunsenLabs Carbon, which is Openbox-atop-Debian. I like the window manager aspect and how much resources it saves, even though I don't need to save resources much anymore . . .
Actually, really sincerely asking, especially after what I've seen here on Bluesky.
Older (68) cis straight male Linux user for 20+ years here, and wondering aloud: Does the distro I use really define my sexuality? Not being an asshole, but asking sincerely. For the record, now a Debian user (BunsenLabs, which is Openbox-on-Debian), and just wondering . . . 🤔
Only if you want to . . . 🤔
I always say E-T-C and haven't been corrected yet. But there's always a first time . . . 🤔
Ubuntu?
Don't entirely agree with this. I would not recommend vanilla Arch to ANYONE, even at gunpoint, but some of the Arch-based distros are OK for beginners, like CachyOS and even Manjaro, though their status may be up in the air.
3/3 I liked the ones in the top post because they were all unique and offered much to the user (in this case, me). To be honest, I can't really say I have "disliked" a distro, though some are more problematic than others (e.g., vanilla Arch -- JFC! -- though distros based on Arch are totally fine).
2/3 Distros I didn't like? Anything that is "immutable" or "atomic." While that may be good for servers, it takes something away from individual users on laptops/desktops. Origami comes first to mind, and I think I reviewed another (maybe Bluefin?).
1/3 Interesting question. Favorite so far? Several. From memory (not that my memory is so great) I liked Linux Mint, CachyOS, Pardus, MX Linux/AntiX, CuerdOS, and also Besgnulinux -- only because the install included so much software -- and Emmabuntus because it was close to Linux sainthood.
Fucquez vous, Monsieur Gates! 🤣
Good call. Rule #1 in using Arch is use an Arch derivative like CachyOS 😀
Good call. Between those two, I am a big Xfce fan.
This . . . ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Narrator's voice: They're essentially the same.
Firefox mostly, but I occasionally stray into Brave and Vivaldi.
Someone (you?) mentioned "gaming" or you had a gaming rig. If you're a gamer, I would avoid Ubuntu and go with something more inclined to gaming like CachyOS. There are many gamer-oriented distros out there, and there are distros out there for the rest of us. Distrowatch-dot-com is your friend.
Good point, Bruce.
One thing that grinds my gears -- and I know it's only me -- is when a distro install DOESN'T include an email client.
It's Thursday, so this week's FOSS Force "Distro of the Week" is Garuda Mokka Linux, which may take Manjaro's crown in the Arch-based distro department.
fossforce.com/2026/04/can-...
BunsenLabs Carbon with the Openbox window manager. It's based on Debian and suits my needs. I don't do anything special but I love to play with the Conky on the desktop.
This. 100 percent this.
Depends on your experience and what you plan to do. For daily use, Linux Mint or Zorin OS is good for beginners. I would avoid vanilla Arch, but I like Arch-based distros like Manjaro or Garuda if you're so inclined.
There are over 400 distros available. Distrowatch-dot-com is your friend.
OK, so 20 years ago your mom had been using Ubuntu and it sucked. That's fair. Twenty years later, don't you think Linux may have made -- oh, I don't know -- improvements over that time. Hint: It has.
Fedora 20? Isn't that like a decade old?
Oh, FFS! Hell will "reign" down on them? Does anyone else miss presidents who could compose sentences that made sense?1
My new tattoo: "Linux is dumbass friendly" 😂
(OK, not really getting a tattoo, but if I did . . .)
About 200 people showed up for No Kings. Interesting that you grew up there.
So as a straight white male, do I have to use something else? 🤔
Helpful hint: If you're going to install Arch, you might want to look at Arch-based distros like CachyOS or Garuda first. Three words: Ease of installation.
Meanwhile, back to the original message, I'm on the Debian-based BunsenLabs Carbon.